Blackshear is a city and the county seat of Pierce County, Georgia, in the southeastern part of the state. It lies in the flat, agricultural landscape of southeast Georgia's wiregrass and pine country, near the larger city of Waycross and within reach of both the Okefenokee Swamp and the Atlantic coast. At the 2020 census, the city reported a population of 3,506. The city's name honors General David Blackshear, an early Georgia military figure who supervised construction of the historic Blackshear Road, one of the region's first major routes. Pierce County was established in 1857 and named for President Franklin Pierce, and Blackshear has served as its seat through the county's history as a farming and timber region. The railroad shaped the city's growth, and its downtown, anchored by the Blackshear Depot and a designated Downtown Historic District, preserves the scale and character of a late-19th and early-20th-century Georgia county seat. Today, Blackshear functions as the governmental and commercial center of Pierce County, with the county courthouse, schools, and local businesses forming the core of daily life. Pierce County High School, the county's only public high school, is located in the city and serves as a central community institution. The local economy is rooted in government services, retail, agriculture, and light industry, with many residents commuting to Waycross for additional employment. Blackshear appeals to families, retirees, and those seeking a quiet, affordable small-town lifestyle with strong community ties. Its historic downtown, welcoming atmosphere, and access to the natural resources of southeast Georgia make it a comfortable and rooted place to live.